| analogical theory | A theory that explains a relationship through analogy to a well-understood model.
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| confirmational strategy | A strategy for testing a theory that involves finding evidence that confirms the predictions made by the theory.
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| descriptive theory | A theory that simply describes the relationship among variables without attempting to explain the relationship.
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| disconfirmational strategy | A method of testing a theory that involves conducting research to provide evidence that disconfirms the predictions made by the theory.
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| domain | The range of situations to which a theory applies. Also called the scope of a theory.
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| functional explanation | An explanation for a phenomenon given in terms of its function, that is, what it accomplishes.
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| fundamental theory | A theory that proposes a new structure or underlying process to explain how variables and constants relate.
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| law | A relationship that has been substantially verified through empirical test.
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| mechanistic explanation | An explanation for a phenomenon given in terms of a mechanism that is assumed to produce it through an explicit chain of cause and effect.
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| model | Specific application of a general theoretical view. The term model is sometimes used as a synonym for theory.
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| qualitative theory | A theory in which terms are expressed verbally rather than mathematically.
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| quantitative theory | A theory in which terms are expressed mathematically rather than verbally.
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| scientific theory | A theory that goes beyond simple hypothesis, deals with verifiable phenomena, and is highly ordered and structured.
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| strong inference | A strategy for testing a theory in which a sequence of research studies is systematically carried out to rule out alternative explanations for a phenomenon.
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